This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2024-2025 (archived)
Module ECON3061: INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION
Department: Economics
ECON3061: INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 3 | 20 | Not available in 2024/2025 | Durham |
Tied To
- CFC0: Natural Sciences (Psychology pathway)
- CFC1: Natural Sciences (Psychology pathway) with Year Abroad
- CFC2: Natural Sciences (Psychology pathway) with Placement
- CFG0: Natural Sciences
- CFG1: Natural Sciences with Year Abroad
- CFG2: Natural Sciences with Placement
- FGC0: Natural Sciences
- FGC1: Natural Sciences with Placement
- L100: Economics
- L103: Economics with Management
- L104: Economics with Management with Placement Year
- L105: Economics with Management with Study Abroad
- L106: Economics with Placement Year
- L109: Economics with Study Abroad
- L1R1: Economics with French
- LA01: Liberal Arts
- LA03: Liberal Arts (with Placement Year)
- LL01: Economics and Politics with Study Abroad
- LL02: Economics and Politics with Placement Year
- LL12: Economics and Politics
- LMV0: Combined Honours in Social Sciences
- LMVA: Combined Honours in Social Sciences (with Year Abroad)
- LMVP: Combined Honours in Social Sciences (with Placement Year)
- VL52: Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- VLL6: Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Placement Year
- VLLA: Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Study Abroad
Pre-requisites
- Microeconomics (ECON2021) OR Economic Theory (ECON2291)
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- The module aims to build upon material at Levels 1 and 2 in order to develop an understanding of key aspects of industrial organisation. In particular, the module aims to develop the ability of students to use the tools of modern microeconomic analysis to examine the behaviour and performance of firms in industrial and commercial markets, whole providing opportunities to practise and develop a range of key skills.
Content
- Topics are likely to include:
- The measurement and determination of market concentration.
- Static models of oligopoly behaviour.
- Collusion.
- Entry barriers, entry threats and strategic behaviour.
- Firm survival and exit.
- Market structure and profitability.
- Innovation.
- Regulation and Natural Monopoly.
- Topics in industrial organisation.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- Upon completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key aspects of industrial organisation, including the relationship between the structure of industrial and commercial markets and the conduct and performance of firms within them.
Subject-specific Skills
- On completion of the module, students should be able to use some of the basic tools of modern microeconomic analysis to examine aspects of the behaviour and performance of firms in industrial and commercial markets.
Key Skills
- Written communication - through formative and summative assessment.
- Planning, Organisation and Time Management - by planning work in order to prepare for tutorial classes, formative assessment and written examinations.
- Problem solving and analysis - by exercising critical thinking in applying relevant theory and empirical evidence to the analysis of problems and issues encountered in seminar worksheets and summative assessment.
- Initiative - by selecting and researching relevant literature and information in preparation for tutorial classes, formative assessment and the written examination.
- Numeracy - by applying core mathematical and quantitative skills to complete a range of seminar exercises.
- Computer Literacy and Information Retrieval - by word processing, accessing and downloading material form DUO, using e-mail to communicate with class leader and other students, undertaking bibliographic search and information retrieval for their student-centred learning topic.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in tutorial classes and private study. Formative assessment is by means of one piece of written work. Summative assessment is by means of an online examination.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 | 1 per week | 1 hour | 20 | |
| Seminars | 8 | 4 in term 1, 4 in term 2 | 1 hour | 8 | Yes |
| Revision Lecture | 2 | 2 in term 3 | 1 hour | 2 | |
| Preparation and Reading | 170 | ||||
| Total | 200 | ||||
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 100% | One in-person written examination | 2 hours | 100% | Same |
Formative Assessment
One written piece of work to prepare students for the summative examination.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.